White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

John Dingle on the last 57 Years in Washington

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This week Rep. John Dingle celebrates 57 years on Capitol Hill, going over 30 terms and 11 different presidents. In the interview with the New York Times, Dingle reflects on the changes in policy and a greatest hits of what’s happened in Washington. Choice quotes include:

  • “Nixon was, according to Eisenhower, a great bad man.”
  • “Obama…has probably got the smallest rolodex of anybody in this town.”
  • “I never wanted to be president. You’re never a human being after that.”
    It’s a quick runthrough of Dingle’s greatest hits without his wife Debbie or children. No sign of Michigan’s newfound holiday, “John Dingle Day,” in 2009 or the time he read a poem responding to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly’s “War on Christmas” speech. Instead Dingle’s reflections go over the many presidents that came and went, while leaving the survivor of three redistricting in Michigan in office for half a century.

    • Celebrating 20 Years: 2011 Garden Brunch

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    David and Susan Axelrod (middle) and Rupert Murdoch (right)

    2011 represented a remarkable year of change for the Garden Brunch. The event moved from its historic location in the Palisades of Washington, D.C. to a new location: the historic Georgetown Beall-Washington House, the residence of Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham. Co-presented by the residence’s current owner, Mark Ein, the Garden Brunch spread itself out into yet another staple of Washington’s architectural history.

    Hollywood guests included Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black, “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, “Gossip Girl’s” Chase Crawford, The Social Network’s Joe Mazzello, Jeremy Piven and Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Also representing the entertainment industry were Joan Rivers, Morgan Fairchild and Rosario Dawson among others.

    Attending their first Brunch, Sarah and Todd Palin made a huge impression. Seen mingling with President Obama’s political strategist David Axelrod, CURE epilepsy’s Susan Axelrod and many other Washington correspondents–both White House and political.

    Olympic snowboarder phenom Shaun White was visible among the crowd, as were media moguls like Sean Parker, David Carr and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.

    The brunch happeneda week before Mother’s Day, which let co-chairs Wendi Murdoch and Susan Axelrod take the opportunity to honor all mothers by honoring The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy at the reception. Take a look at the video below:

    2011 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch from whcinsider on Vimeo.

    VEEP Season 2 Premiere Party Photos

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    Veep Season 2 screening

    The second season of HBO’s Veep premiered yesterday as Julia Louis-Dreyfus took up the Second-in-Command role of Selina Meyer for her next term. As the victional V.P. battles the results of a mid-term election, the actual star came to Washington last week for a special screening at the MPAA.

    While we had a minor SNL cast-of-1985 reunion between Louis-Dreyfus and Senator Al Franken, MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd welcomes the HBO star to the real District (Veep films up in Maryland sharing space with Netflix’s House of Cards).

    Below we have photos from the reception from last week’s premiere, along with some notable appearances from Washington regulars and the occasional former Senator-turned-Chairman Chris Dodd.

    SEE YOU AT THE 2013 WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS GARDEN BRUNCH, GRETA!

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    Greta’s classic invites include Ozzy Osbourne himself.


    Greta Van Susteren stunned the Washington political media establishment by
    telling Politico’s Dylan Byers that she will skip the White House
    Correspondents Dinner this year but she made the brunch co-hosts very
    happy. Van Sustern and her husband John Coale created some of the most
    memorable moments since she switched careers from law to television. Her
    2001 move (check year) to Fox News Channel was chronicled with the cover
    of People and her show, On The Record, have been number 1 for “45 quarters.”

    She told Dylan she won’t be attending and explained further at Gretawire. The reason? Supposedly this Washington Post article detailing this year’s guests.

    Still, Greta has been a main stay at the WHCA Dinners of past. She’s the prime reason why Kardashians and Lohans show up:

    Shawn Champan Holley, John Coale, Greta van Susteren, Kris Jenner and Lindsay Lohan

    Greta is so instrumental she can make once-in-a-lifetime-shots like this happen:

    Todd Palin, John Coale, Greta van Susteren, David and Susan Axelrod, Sarah Palin, Wendi and Rupert Murdoch

    While she’s not attending the dinner this year, you can be sure she’ll be at our brunch on the day of the White House Correspondents Dinner. It’s not the same as the dinner–the brunch is much more loose and laid back when it comes to photos, off-the-record conversation and general fun. Of course, it’s invitation only. Like all the quality stuff in Washington.

    This year, for the first time, the brunch is being held to raise awareness for the Miss America scholarship program. They’re devoted to STEM (or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Mallory Hagen, the 2013 Miss America and Miss New York, has engaged young women in STEM issues. Miss America Board Chairman Sam Haskell announced the STEM initiative before January’s broadcast on ABC:

    “The Miss America Organization will work with national and community partners to create an unconventional approach to driving young women’s interest in STEM.

    Our efforts coincide with the national momentum to teach STEM curricula outside traditional school settings, targeting female students who are currently underrepresented in STEM professions. Our hope is to help shift girls’ attitudes about STEM and boost the percentage of women employed in STEM-related industries. It’s not just the right thing to do, but is also the smart thing to do for America’s future and our economy.”

    We continue to support the research efforts of CUREepilepsy and see their latest research at their site. We’re pleased to announce we will be broadcasting the brunch program live on Saturday April 27th.

    DCI's Meyers: "Be mindful of the rise of these Republican millenials"

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    Dan Meyers

    Enough with comparing Lena Dunham to millenials when Dan Meyers is taking the same issue to Politico’s Op-Ed page. The DCI Group Vice President is bringing the millenial focus directly to the GOP and proving the party’s need to acknowledge this emerging group.

    The main point Meyers gets at is same-sex marriage and how it effects millenial voters.

    “Nearly every recent public poll has shown extraordinarily high and growing support for freedom to marry among younger voters. A recent survey by ABC News/Washington Post stands out. TargetPoint’s survey revealed that 64 percent of evangelical millennials support the freedom to marry. This number further highlights the generational shift on issues such as marriage equality — even among those who strongly align their personal belief systems with their faith.”

    Only in Washington can you get an idea of how the other half of the political spectrum lives. While the entertainment niche is an easy foothold, can’t we all agree on how to live regardless of politics? Or even choosing which HBO show best represents us? Granted, Game of Thrones could inspire both Dems and GOP to come together if dragons ever show up. As for which generation will claim to have that title is left to a future op-ed in Politico.

    Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, Dies at 87

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    Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the first female British Prime Minister, passed away this morning after experiencing a stroke according to her spokesperson. Thatcher served as leader for the Conservative Party in Britain for 13 years.

    President Obama released the following statement:

    “With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend. As a grocer’s daughter who rose to become Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered. As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best. And as an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom’s promise.

    Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history—we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will. Michelle and I send our thoughts to the Thatcher family and all the British people as we carry on the work to which she dedicated her life—free peoples standing together, determined to write our own destiny.”

    Thatcher was immortalized in the 2011 biopic, The Iron Lady, where Meryl Streep played the former Prime Minister and won an Academy Award for her performance among other accolades from the BAFTA Awwards and New York Film Critic Circle.

    Thatcher has battled poor health over the last few years and, according to CNN, has suffered a series of strokes following her first major reported case in 2002.

    Thatcher is survived by her two children, Carol and Mark.

    Photos: White House Easter Egg Roll 2013

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    As spring blossoms in Washington–not that the lack of Cherry Blossoms help–we come to look upon the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Held for the fifth year under President Obama, the Easter Egg Roll was presented this year in part with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Get Up And Move campaign.

    “Today we’re going to have more than 30,000 people who will pass through this yard in celebration of nutrition and health and activity,” she said. “And we could not do this if it were not for all of our wonderful volunteers, our staff, all of the terrific performers and athletes who have taken time out of their lives and their busy days to make this important. So we need to give all of them a round of applause for all their hard work.”

    The annual basketball and tennis outing was not as easy for POTUS. Per the Pool:

    “POTUS stepped to free throw line and kids were asked to stand on opposite sides, depending on whether they think he would sink it. Most kids moved in one direction, but one boy went to the “miss” side.

    “Oh, man,” a stunned POTUS said, hands on hips. The boy didn’t budge. And three others joined.

    In sharp form, POTUS released the ball. It bounced off the rim and circled it — miss.

    “Come on. Come on. Did you see that?” Obama said.

    It got worse. A little while later, after playing tennis, Obama started to take shots amid the kids and pros.

    Miss. Miss. Off the rim. Miss. Miss. Off the rim. Airball. He moved closer to the net.

    But time and again, he missed. Of 22 shots POTUS took, he made two. (22 was general consensus of poolers)[.]”

    At least reading went a little better for Obama than the pick-up game.

    White House Easter Egg Roll Has POTUS and K-POTUS Switch Desks

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    While everyone is enjoying a rather foggy morning in Washington, there’s a distinct lack of “fool” for today’s April Fool’s. The St. “Patty”‘s Day equivalent of pranking folks and generally making the Internet unreliable doesn’t occur often inside the Beltway. Except President Obama has seemed to take a shine to Robby “Kid President” Novak as Click points out:

    The diminutive POTUS replacement showed up to make the formal announcement for the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll back in February. Today he’s one of many special guests including Beasts of the Southern Wild‘s Quvenzhané Wallis, NASCAR’s Danica Patrick, Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson, Elmo, Abby, Gordon and Rosita from Sesame Street, the full cast of Super Sprowtz and pop group The Wanted.

    There’s also an “Eggtivity Zone” that ” will represent the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition as players and coaches from professional sports teams teach kids how to play sports and show kids easy, fun ways to stay active and fit.” Eggsciting.

    They’ll also be a bevy of costumed characters running around the White House lawn throughout the day. According to the White House, more than 300,000 Washington residents can be expected to attend throughout the day. So hopefully you’ve got your ticket and are already in line–we hear POTUS is showing up early to make an appearance. No fooling.

    Nationals Sure To Win World Series This Year Because of '86 Mets

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    Much like the plot of Rocky Balboa, The Washington Nationals are supposedly going to take the 2013 World Series because they’re statistically on par with the 1986 New York Mets. In their upcoming baseball issue–complete with local covers–“Mr. October” Stephen Strasberg will be a key factor in bringing another title to the Nats sez Sports Illustrated.

    The pullquote of the year from Tom Verducci:
    “Manager Davey Johnson has managed this team before: the 1986 Mets. Like the ’86 Mets, the Nationals are coming off a 98-win season, are loaded with young pitching, star players and a deep bullpen and expect to win. Washington has no obvious flaw.”

    Meanwhile in the “Who will have a better year” psyhic category the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout edges out Bryce Harper 4:3. The Mets and The Nationals are natural enemies, of course: Washington and New York have spared together for years. Even this weekend for the Easter game the Nationals will have a rare outing against the Yankees at National Park. This sort of tea leaf reading may seem strange, but we’re a town that appreciates hardcore stat analyzation and going off gut choices. Honestly, without that love of bet hedging 1100 Wilson Boulevard would just be another Baja Fresh/Cosi hybrid and not Politico. And if this miracle season doesn’t occur, DCist notes we at least know who to blame at Sports Illustrated.